Knott's Berry Farm has been promoting the heck out of this on their social media pages (also on their website), but they are again offering the early bird promotion to buy a season pass for 2014 (good from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2014), plus a free visit during 2013, for $72, or 6 payments of $8 each. It's the same price for adults or for children, and a season pass cannot be used for special events requiring a separate ticket like Knott's Scary Farm.

I believe last year's promotion at this time was for $67. Apparently Knott's has eliminated the option to add-on unlimited parking to a pass for $50. If you want parking included on all your visits in 2014, you have to purchase the platinum-level season pass (good for any Cedar Fair amusement or water park, with parking included) for $180.

If you're interested in the parking option and only plan to visit Knott's, you'd have to visit the park at least 8 times to break even on buying the Platinum pass vs. paying $15 per visit for the parking (don't forget that only one person per family needs to have parking on their pass, as long as that person is in the vehicle when you get to the parking toll booth). That would compare to 4 times to break even for a 2013 pass, which cost $50 as an add-on. It seems that Knott's has decided that they were giving too much of a break to season passholders on parking.

The daily entertainment guide I picked up today when visiting the park had an ad on the back side for the 2014 season pass. It says that prices will go up on Oct. 27th, if you were trying to decide whether to buy now or not.

The standard admission ticket costs $62 for adults or $33 for children ages 3-11 or seniors age 62 or above. You can get a big discount by buying your ticket online before you leave for the park, at $39.99 for adults or $29.99 for children or seniors (and an additional $3 per adults ticket if you buy online at least 3 days in advance).

Doing the math, you'd break even buying a season pass for 2014 if you visit only twice during the year (or with your free ticket in 2013), if you can afford to buy the pass now, or put it on Knott's installment plan.

You can buy the pass online and activate it on your next visit to Knott's Berry Farm. The season pass activation building is located just to the left of the main gate, near the gate where visitors exit. They take a photograph of you which is encoded onto your pass card (looks like a credit card)--the park employee who scans your pass at the entrance or at the parking booth will see your photo on their screen.